You have to love insurance coverage. When January 1 came around, a number of our patients learned the unfortunate news that their co-pays had jumped anywhere from $10-$50. (The increase from $0 to $50 was an isolated event; however I'd estimate the average Read More...

I guess it's inevitable that in a city (Pittsburgh) with cold, snowy winters, there are bound to be a ton of cancellations in the winter months. Add that on to an already light caseload (which I assume is also related to the winter months), and it can Read More...

With 2014 on the horizon, I'll be seeking employment somewhere in the physical therapy field very shortly. The real question is -- when is it appropriate to start applying for jobs? I imagine that a student who has passed the boards is much more marketable, Read More...

When I take a step back and think about the concept of "personal space," I realize that it doesn't exist in the PT world. Three years ago, if I had to poke around a stranger's greater trochanter or get up close and personal for a transfer, I would have Read More...

The further I get into my boards study schedule, the more concerned I am about some of the content included in the review book. Maybe some of my concern is related to the fact that I'm first covering topics that I feel least comfortable with -- cardiopulmonary Read More...

I'm starting to realize that laying the groundwork for discharge could be one of the most important pieces of communication that a PT (student or clinician) tackles with her patients. Though I haven't run into it yet, I can foresee some tricky discharges Read More...

It's the age-old question for PT students on rotation around the holidays -- will I be expected to work? There's inevitably that awkward point when the issue finally surfaces and you find yourself trying to test the waters mid-conversation. Someone brings Read More...

In transferring from inpatient rehab to a local outpatient PT clinic, I have the unique opportunity to see patients throughout their course of recovery. When I arrived to my current clinical site, I recognized at least three patients who had been on either Read More...

I just finished my second week at an outpatient clinic where I see a great variety of patients. I'd say it's split 50/50 between orthopedic and neurologic diagnoses. The caseload diversity is going to be a great learning experience. But until I feel up Read More...

In case you haven't followed the past few blogs, I started a new clinical on Monday after having spent six months in an inpatient rehab setting. I'm now interning at an outpatient center where the patient population spans the entire gamut -- orthopedics, Read More...

It's been about six months since I've written anything other than a progress note or a blog, and about as long since I've sat in a four-hour lecture. On Saturday, I sat in eight hours of a conference, and Sunday I completed a 20-page "final" project. Read More...

I've dealt a lot with the "c" word lately -- cancer. On both a personal and professional level, I've had an up-close look at the effects of the disease on patients, families and healthcare professionals. In the world of PT school, we covered cancer interventions Read More...

Three different events have come up in the past week that make me wonder about the world of "light duty" and injuries. If you're reading this, I'm assuming you have some career connection to physical therapy and therefore realize that ours are not the Read More...

Working on the spinal cord injury unit, I often find myself treating patients whose functional recovery we can't predict. As I've taken the lead on more of these cases, one of the most significant challenges I face is finding a balance between providing Read More...

Having the opportunity to spend three months at one clinical site has meant that I've seen a lot of my patients through their entire course of inpatient rehab care. And as I've taken on more of my own caseload, I've been their primary PT. By chance, there Read More...